New first tank cycling question

[ljosh]

I started my tank about 10 days ago. It is a 10 gallon with a 20 gallon sump I bought 21 pounds of fiji premium and 60 pounds of special grade argonite for a DSB in the sump. The rock was shipped to me air freight it spent about 12 hours in styro coolers with no water. The rock was not stinky when it arrived. The water was cloudy for the first 3 days. There was a small ammonia spike, between .03 and .06 mg/L and a small nitrite spike. I never did test nitrate until today.

Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are all now showing the lowest value on my tests. I tested them all several times because in my FW tanks the cycles have always taken 3 weeks or more. Ca came in at 420mg/L. PH at between 8.1 and 8.3. Phosphates at somewhere between .25 and .5 mg/L. The salinity is 1.025 and temp is 81F. Should I make any adjustments to the salinity or temperature?

I am wondering if it would be safe to add a couple of fish?

Also since I am paying air freight I would like to add the CUC as well but the problem is there is no algae. Can I feed the them with something else? Should I wait to add them? The thing is the air freight is 3 times the price of the livestock so it would be nice to add them all at once.

For a cuc i was looking at:
5 - Blue Legged Hermits
1 - Red Scarlet Hermit
3 - Astrea Snails
2 - Margarita Snails


I will be ordering from www.jlaquatics.com. Any specific recomendations from there available fish would greatly appreciated.

I will eventually be looking to add corals but I am certainly in no rush.

I tried to take some pictures but my digital camera really does not like the blue lights and they where not worth posting.

Thank you

 

[drummereef]

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Just keep testing and make sure the tank has stabilized before adding your cleaners. I personally don't use hermts anymore just because they can be aggresive towards snails. The astreas and margaritas will be fine and do a good job for you. But to each his own... The salinity is fine. I keep mine at 1.026, but 1.025 is very acceptable. The temp is fine. I keep mine around 80.5F. Keep us posted on the progress!

Good to see you are testing for calcium. Alkalinity plays a key role in a reef tank, so I'd start testing as soon as possible. Target 7-11dkh and you'll be fine.

 

[vegesrus]

i think Ljosh has a very nice tank. i like it. and like to use it as an excuse to not show up for work. oops i mean i still work. * not really*.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

"air freight is 3 times the price of the livestock"
Wow I never realized that. I've taken for granted being able to drive to Tampa Bay Saltwater my self and get everything else from the ocean.

 

[vegesrus]

how unfair. that this town that i live in forces me to have to air frieght livestock in.